Tanning apparatus.



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(Application filed Nov. 20, 1899.1

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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CARL JOSEF MILES FLEETTVOOD, OF FREIBERG, GERMANY.

TANNlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,896, dated. November 2'7, 1900.

Application filed November 20, 1899. Serial No, 737,625. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL JOSEF MILES FLEETWOOD, engineer, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Freiberg, in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Accelerating the Process of Tanning and for the Complete Utilization of Tanning that has been Once Used, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to an apparatus by means of which the tanning liquor which has been once used can be continuously regenerated, a saving effected in the quantity used, and the quantity can be constantly regulated and tested and also can be led for the purpose of purification constantly through a heap of purifying material-such as spent tan, &c.and by producing a rarefaction of the air in the chamber the penetration of the tanning liquor into the pores of the hides can be accelerated. It is important to regulate the quantity of the tanning liquor contained in the tanning-drum, because as a small quantity of hides will of course absorb much less tanning liquor in the tanning process than a larger quantity of hides a considerable saving in the tanning liquor can be effected by regulating the amount of the liquor. In order that the tanning liquor shall properly penetrate the hide, it is indispensably necessary that the said liquor shall be as clear and clean as possible. If it contains foreign substances, the latter become deposited in the pores of the hide and prevent the tanning liquor from penetrating the hide. This latter drawback is one of the greatest disadvantages of the present rapidtanning process, because a liquor which hasbeen once used contains such a large quantity of impurities due to detachedor dissolved fibers of the hides that with each new charge of hides either a part of the liquor must be renewed or the whole of the liquor must be completely purified. Now the apparatus forming the subject of this invention has the advantage that the liquor comes in a continually-purified state upon the hides. This has theadvantage that the said liquor can be completely utilized, while in addition to the saving effected thereby a determined formation of acid is on the hides.

produced, which, as every tanner knows, is a great advantage. With this apparatus it is also possible to measure and to vary, as desired, the concentration of the liquor during the tanning process. This has been already attempted in recent times by adding new liquor and then regulating the concentration by means of the hides to be tanned; but this process has the great disadvantage that the tanning liquor varies irregularly and depends The pores of the interstices of the hides in their u ntanned state are of course filled with air, and this fact renders the tanning process more difficult because the liquor is compelled to displace the air before it can penetrate the hide. Now in the new apparatus a partial vacuum is produced in the tanning-drum, whereby the tanning process is accelerated, because the pores of the hides being filled with rarefied air oppose very much less resistance to penetration by the tanning liquor.

The apparatus hereinbefore described is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view thereof in part. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same on the line or y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is also a sectional elevation of the other part of the apparatus.

A is a vessel which serves to receive the extract of the tanning agent. The extract coming from the vessel passes through the valve to and the glass vessel Z), which serves for inspection of the flow of extract into the pipe 0.

B is the drum in which the tanning operation is effected. It has a perforated partition d, which has the object of protecting the pipe 6. The pipe 6 discharges on the right hand of the partition d, and the said pipe can be rotated by means of the lever f independently of the rotation of the drum. This leverfcan be placed and kept fixed in any position by means of the holder g. The pipe 6 opens on the other side with an air-tight seal or joint into the pipe h, which in its turn opens into the lower part of the vat C. This vat is divided by two perforated heads into three compartments, the central one s of which is filled with (spent) tan or any other material that serves to filter the liquor. From the upper part of the vat O the pipe t leads through the valve 7a to the rotary pump Z and farther on to any desired number of receiving vats, which are as deep as possible, preferably of a depth of six meters, and from which the pipe 0 leads into the drum B. When the hides have been thrown into the drum B, the opening of the pipe c is placed at the height at which it is desired that the level of the liquor in B shall stand. Then the pump Z is operated and pumps up the liquor from the vats. This liquor passes through the pipe 0, receives the extract from A, then passes through the valve 4, which serves to connect the drum B with the outer atmosphere when it is to be discharged into the drum B. From here the liquor passes through the pipes c and it into the lower part of the vat 0. By the action of the pump Z a partial vacuum is formed in the upper part of the vat O, causing the liquor to rise through the filtering material and out through pipe 2' to the receiving-vats shown in Fig. 2.

n is a test-glass communicating with pipes t and h by means of short pipes provided with cocks or valves m and p, the test-glass being provided with a petcock q for outlet of air, a pipe 0 passingin U shape through the glass and open to the air at each end, and any form of instruments for testing the temperature and specific gravity of the liquor, as at a.

To test the liquor as it comes through pipe 'i from the filter, the valve 19 is closed, the petcock q opened, and the valve m opened until a sufficient quantity of liquor to test has run into the glass it, when the valve m is closed. The liquor in the glass is then tested by an aerometer and thermometer, and afterwardthe glass it is emptied into pipe h by opening the cock or valve p. Air circulating through pipe 0 will cool the liquor in the glass 71. In large establishments several apparatus and drums, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used. Then the discharge-pipe 2' serves also as a feed-pipe for the next drum. The discharge-pipe of the last drum in this case is connected with the pump.

M is an extractor connected with the steampipe g, which has a branch 0 for forcing over.

D E F G H I K L are vats for receiving the liquor.

N is a vat which is intended to convert alkaline liquor by the addition of acid-tan into acid liquor.

p and 'n are four-way cocks. l and h are also such cocks. The two latter are connected with the rotary pipes 76 and m.

The Weakest liquor passes from D through the valve n, pipe 8, valve 6, and pipe 0 to the drum and passes from thence through the pump and the pipe t', valve a, pipe t, valve 9 to the vat N, and is therein converted into acid liquor. The liquor from E takes the same course as far as the valve a; but from there it is caused to pass through pipe 6, valve Z, and rotary pipe m into the vat D. In this manner the liquor passes from F into E, from G into F, II into G, Jinto II, and K into I. The liquor from L after having taken the path as far as the valve (1 passes through the pipe t, valve 1), and pipe 1 into the extractor M, where it is concentrated by boiling, and then it is forced over for the purpose of the formation of acid into the vat N, which has already been emptied of the liquor that has come from D. It then flows subsequently as acid liquor into the vat K.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Lettion of a rotary drum, a liquor-outlet pipe,

with one end arranged therein, means to effect the movement or adjustment of said pipe independently of said drum, and a receptacle or vat adapted to contain filtering material, having communication with said pipe and an outlet-pipe for said vat or receptacle, connecting with a testing device and a pump for delivering the liquor thus purified or regenerated to the required destination, substantially as specified.

3. In a tanning apparatus, the combination of a rotary drum, means to supply the same with the tanning liquor, a separately movable or adjustable pipe with one end arranged interiorly of said drum, a vat or receptacle adapted to contain a filtering material, an air-tight pipe or nozzle connecting the aforesaid pipe and vat, an outlet-pipe for said vat connecting with a pump to deliver the liquor to required additional vats or vessels, substantially as described.

4. In a tanning apparatus, a rotary drum, a means for the supply of the liquor thereto, a separately movable or adjustable pipe, with one end arranged interiorly of said drum, an air -tight chamber or pipe communicating with said pipe, a receptacle or vat to contain a filtering material, an outlet-pipe for said vat, a testing device connected to said outlet-pipe, a pump connecting with said outletpipe, and a series or number of additional vats or vessels having pipe connections with said pump, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tanning apparatus, the combination of a rotary drum, means for the supply of the liquor thereto, a separately movable or adjustable pipe, with one end arranged Within said drum, an air-tight chamber or pipe connecting with the aforesaid pipe, a vat or receptacle adapted to contain afiltering material and connected with said chamber, an outlet-pipe for said vat, a testing device connected with said outlet-pipe, a pump connected with said outlet-pipe, a series of additional vats or vessels having valved discharge-pipes, an additional pipe connecting In Witness whereof I subscribe my signa- With said discharge pipes and tanks, one at ture in presence of two witnesses.

each end thereof, and with a pipe connecting with said rotary drum at its supply end and CARL JOSDF MILEb FLEEIWOOD' 5 further pipes additional todischargeintosaid Witnesses: additional vats or vessels and into said end ALVESTO S. HOGUE, tanks, substantially as specified. AUGUST FUGGER. 

